Hello again guys, here's my new chapter! Its a little bit of a bridge to a big Joker Harley scene i had planned, originally I was going to put it in this chapter but i wanted to do it justice. Hope you still enjoy this chapter and look forward to the next one! (thank for so much for those of you that right reviews and things i love hearing any feedback and its so lovely to hear from you guys :3)
Thankfully it didn't take too much longer for Peter to finally come to his senses. Admittedly it was less him coming to his senses and more he'd exhausted all other options available to him. After two more weeks of wasted time Kingston finally caved.
I'd had a frustrating session with Nigma, who was in a sulk for no reason. While he was fast become my favourite patient, his intelligence made him almost impossible to treat. No matter what tactics I tried to help him with his obsessions, he was always prepared with a witty remark or snappy comeback. There was nothing more irritating than constantly being outmanoeuvred by a patient, expect than be taunted with constant riddles afterwards. I was use to anti-social patients, insults and threats they were part of the job here, but the constant belittling from Nigma just wore of my decreasing patience. I'd ended up cutting the session short because I knew there was no way I could make progress, he was enjoying frustrating me too much.
I'd been so lost in my own annoyance that when I'd gone to the staff room for some sort of caffeine fix to calm myself down I hadn't even noticed Kingston sat in the corner. Admittedly he didn't have much of a presence these days. It wasn't until I sank with a sigh into a chair next to a nurse named Kayleigh that I noticed Peter staring at me with thinly veiled hatred. I turned to Kayleigh hoping she might have some idea where the outright hostility had come from.
"Hey Kayleigh, what's up with Peter?" I said to her in a hush tone so that hopefully Peter wouldn't hear me, he was say across the room but you never know.
"You seriously haven't heard yet?" She gave me a shocked look, surveying my face for some sign of a joke.
"Haven't heard what? I was in group sessions all yesterday and I've been dealing with Nigma this morning" At the mention of Nigma she gave a sympathetic smile.
"Is he still giving you riddles? Jesus that guy is a nut case" We both started giggling at that and I while I knew she was distracting me from the information I wanted, I didn't mind so much. My overall reason for becoming more social may had been to gain a stronger hold in Arkham, hone my manipulative skills and all round stop being the helpless victim. That didn't mean that with a few people there wasn't genuine warmth and the beginnings of friendship.
"Yeah but honestly I'd prefer the riddles to the psychotic breaks I get from some of the patients, you'll never believe what happened last week with….." I was cut off by Peters shadow over the table, he was standing directly behind me. I turned in my seat to face him and could see the menace in his eyes.
"Harleen when your break finishes can you please report straight to my office, you can reschedule any appointments you had for this afternoon" His voice was stern, and straight to the point. With that he disappeared without even waiting for my reply. My curiosity was now at its peak. I turned back to Kayleigh who was staring at me with an infuriatingly smug knowing look.
"Okay forget my story, yours is gonna be a thousand times more interesting I'm sure." I smiled at her, happy to play this teasing dance to get the gossip.
"Ohhh really it's nothing to important Harley." She predictable didn't answer instead pulling an innocent face, one eye brow cocked. We both broke into giggles at that but thankfully she didn't need any more encouraging.
"Harls I am honestly surprised you didn't hear, but then I guess you were busy. Long story short Kingston is losing his grip on the Asylum, word around the place is that the higher ups are feeling the strain of this whole Joker thing that's going on."
"Long story short? Come on Kayleigh don't skimp out on the details. I want to know everything you know got it" My voice came across a little sharper than I would have liked, but it was fine because she just laughed and thought I was joking around.
"I know exactly why you want to know all the details"
She stared at me with a suddenly serious face, so serious it felt like she had x-ray vision. It almost felt like my heart was trying to jump out my throat. This is what happens when you get to friendly with people, they see into you! She must have been how obsessed I was with the Joker.
"And why is that huh?" I tried to sound teasing and playful but even to my ears it sounded strained and defensive.
"It's so obvious you have it out for Kingston. I get why you do, don't worry, I think most people hate him these days. You think he was patronising to you, how do you think he treated the orderlies, guards and nurses that work here? I mean it was a pretty shitty thing he did, pushing you to take the Joker case and then ripping you off it. I mean he's messing with your career when it's just starting. For what it's worth, while most of the other psychiatrist and the higher ups will act like it was the right thing, you got the support of pretty much all of us nurses and orderlies."
"I didn't realise I was such an issue around here" I replied with a laugh as the relief washed over me. You got lucky Harley, you better be more careful from now on my inner voice cautioned.
"Well, it's not so much you that's the issue. We're just sick of the way things are run around here, you're kind of just the most noticeable example of it. You're the reason Kingston is getting so much stress in the last couple of days. See, he's run out of people to stick in with that freak, he's literally tried every option with zero success. And now orderlies and nurses are straight out refusing to go in his cell unless you're reinstated."
"I'm sure they're not rebelling out of some chivalrous need to help poor defenceless me." For once my smug grin could be expressed on the outside, I was grinning ear to ear with Kayleigh shamelessly
"Of course its self-interest, its Gotham. The orderlies and nurses always felt a bit on edge dealing with the Joker, it's completely terrifying being the ones who have to drug him, feed him and all that. These days though it's more than just terrifying, he's determined to do damage to anyone who gets close to him. There's no one who's gonna risk it anymore."
"No wonder Peter looks like he's about to murder me" I giggled and then we carried on talking about every day events of Arkham, laughing and mocking patients and staff alike effortlessly. It was second nature to me now to string along a cheerful conversation while I planned out in the back of my mind. Even while I kept up my cheerful and charming act with Kayleigh I was planning my approach to the Joker.
I practically skipped out the room when my break was up, happily strolling to Kingston's office with the biggest grin on my face. Never had I been surer of myself and with one look at Peters defeated face when I walked into his office I knew I was getting the Joker back. I chose to stand rather than sit and Peter just looked up at me with pure hatred. A few months ago I might have flinched but now it didn't faze me at all.
"I want you in with the Joker, as soon as possible" Ever word was aggressive and forced, and I really couldn't help but gloat just a little.
"Really? I thought I was off that case….I mean it's been so long." I let myself trail of innocently, my face the perfect picture of confusion which only irritated Peter more.
"Cut the crap Quinzel. Don't pretend like you don't know everything that's been going on. Staging your little rebellion just to get him back."
"Peter I really am lost. Rebellion?" My innocent persona obviously infuriated Peter
"I'm sure your perfectly aware that now even the nurses and orderlies are questioning me now. Even if it's only a small group that have outright refused to go near him, it's only a matter of time before more and more start questioning me."
"How terrible Peter, but I can honestly say I'm not involved in any way" Peter must have heard the truth in my statement as he glared at my across his desk.
"Even if you didn't start it, you're still the cause." Peter replied aggressively
"It's not my fault, you wanted me to connect with the Joker so he'd open up and then when he started to, and then you pulled me off the case." I snapped back, my girly childish act dropping instantly. The accusations were wearing thin, I hadn't actually started anything and it was time Peter actually accepted some of the blame.
"Are you really blind enough to think this is about you?" He stood up so fast I thought he was going to launch himself across the table at me, but thankfully I held my ground. "This has nothing to do with you it was about the Joker challenging the Asylum and me. You were just his excuse. The Joker is a feral animal and you are nothing but a naïve idiot."
"For a feral animal, he's certainly outsmarted anyone you put in with him. Your problem is that you treat him like he's any other patient, you can't patronise him and you can't control him. If you want to learn anything up you have to truly understand him, the way I do. You have this vain hope that you can treat him and make him normal but that's impossible"
"Oh no we agree on that Quinzel, that freak can never be normal. He can't be treated. All we can do is learn more about psychopaths from him and maybe get Arkham a bit of good PR for once by learning a few of the infamous Jokers secrets. But let me make one thing clear, you don't understand him."
I would have carried on arguing with him but at that instant an orderly ran in. He looked completely flustered, he didn't even seem to notice the tense atmosphere in the room. In fact he didn't seem to notice me at all, he was completely focused on Peter from the second he walked into the room.
"Kingston we need you right now." He near shouted as he ran in, I seriously thought he was going to collide this the table.
"What's happened?" To give him credit Peter didn't seem phased at all by the orderlies panic, but I suppose he was head of the Asylum for a reason.
"It's the Joker sir. One of the nurses got to close…It doesn't make sense. He should have been sedated…..it happened so fast. I swear we were following procedure but..." the poor guy was speaking so fast I could barely understand what he was saying but Peter cut across his babble.
"Calm down, what exactly did the Joker do?" His voice was like steel, and it was hard not to notice the dirty I told you so look he threw my way.
"One of the nurses was giving him his regular examination. The guys swear they sedated him properly before she went in but when she was leaning over him, he bite her. Like literally took a chunk right out of her neck. She was bleeding everywhere I've never seen anything like it."
"Animal" Peter muttered under his breath "I want you to go up his dosage and…"
"If you're putting me back on the Joker case, perhaps I should go talk to him." I spoke up interrupting Peter, but I wasn't going to his little pawn anymore. This had been what the last month had been about, getting myself in a position to have more control.
"There is no way you're seeing him when he's this unstable. He just attacked someone and tore out their throat!" He practically shouted it at me, but I stood my ground.
"I'm not suggesting a full session, but he is my patient now. If anyone else was having a violent episode you would send their physiatrist to either calm them or learn what they could from the break down. Why should this be any different?"
Peter was literally stunned into silence, but at least the other guy seemed to be nodding in agreement. If only because it meant he wouldn't have to go near the Joker himself again. Feeling even more confident than ever I decided to test my luck just that little bit more.
"Besides if he does attack me at least you'll be happy I'm out the way." And without waiting for a response or any kind of reaction I just left his office, heading straight from the Jokers cell.
